The Lady Spartan softball squad scored all their runs in the third inning on Friday when they welcomed the North Sanpete Hawks to Castle Dale. North Sanpete put one on the board in the first, but Emery shut down the Hawks the remainder of the game to take the 3-1.

Emery has a 15-10 overall record and is ranked No. 5 in the latest RPI rankings. Three games remain before the Lady Spartans’ regular season ends on April 29. On April 30, the Utah High School Activities Association will release its final RPI and the bracket for the State Championships, which start on May 3.

The Hawks struck first, adding a run in the first inning. In the third, with two on and one out, Kali Jensen sent a grounder to short, and Kaitlyn Thomas scored on an error to level the game at one. Katelyn Nielson would send a fly ball to second base and reach on an error that brought in Jensen and TaiLynn Minchey to give the Lady Spartans a lead they wouldn’t relinquish, taking the 3-1 win.

Jensen was 1-3 for Emery with one run scored. Thomas went 1-1, scoring one run, and Minchey collected one run in the win.

Kallee Lake was masterful on the mound, surrendering a run on two hits and striking out five. Lake would take full advantage of her teammates behind her, as this was also a team effort on defense.

Emery heads back to the diamond on Tuesday when they travel to Cedar City to take on Canyon View (No. 14, 5-15).  The Lady Spartans earned an 8-7 win in their first meeting on March 28.